Once again, Mesu has captured my heart and imagination with her talented writing. In Love’s Sacred Song, she penned a breathtaking, layered, and inspiring story of true love, bringing to life the book of Song of Solomon in an unforgettable way. This book of the Bible is beautiful, but sometimes odd-sounding or confusing in its ancient poetic style. However, Mesu managed to make all of these poetic verses come vividly to life, make perfect sense, and sound achingly romantic. **sigh**
Standing in the massive shadow of his famous father, young king Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, wisdom and folly. In the uncertain world of alliances and treachery, Solomon longs for peace and a love that is true and pure–a love that can be his cornerstone.
A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah remembers the first time she laid eyes on Solomon in Jerusalem when she was just seven years old. Since then she has known that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father, a leader of their tribe, secures a promise from King Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams may come true.
But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon’s harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?
Mesu Andrews expertly weaves the words of the Song of Solomon into this touching story of the power of love. Readers will be transported from the glowing fields of Shunem to the gleaming city of Jerusalem as they experience this rich and textured novel from a master storyteller.
I found it so impressive how Mesu was able to craft a compelling and cohesive narrative from the vague details surrounding the background of his Shunemite bride and their love story. And I absolutely loved how she wove the scriptures themselves into the story, particularly in the dialogue. I have always wondered at the juxtaposition of the famously wise King Solomon, and the seemingly foolish King Solomon who chased after women… the King Solomon who clearly loved one woman so passionately in Song of Solomon, and yet ended up with 700 wives, plus hundreds of concubines… The way Mesu portrayed him, however, made all of this make so much more sense. Being wise in love is indeed much different than being wise in government, and evidently this is something Solomon struggled with.
His relationship with Arielah, while rocky, showed a love that loves without condition and offers extravagant forgiveness. I could see the parallels between Solomon and Arielah’s relationship and our relationship with God. We may betray Him and hurt His heart, but He is still there willing to give us His love and forgiveness.
I did not expect the book to end the way it did–oh, my heart!!!!–but again, it served to make the story of King Solomon’s life more understandable and it left me, as the reader, reflecting on the beauty and pain of love, and how it impacts our lives.
Overall, Love’s Sacred Song earns every bit of 5/5 Stars! This is a MUST read for all Biblical fiction lovers.
